SMEDG Technical Talk – February 2019

EXPLORATION MODELS: YOU CAN FLIRT WITH A MODEL … YOU SHOULDN’T MARRY ONE

Presented by Ken Maiden

Date & Time

Thursday February 28, 2019
5.30pm for 6.00pm

Venue

Club York95-99 York St, Sydney NSW 2000

ABSTRACT

Models, both conceptual and empirical, are used to generate exploration targets and develop exploration programs. But if the selected models are wrong or too limited, exploration programs are likely to be ineffective. The Kalahari Copperbelt of central Namibia has copper occurrences and prospects over hundreds of kilometres of strike. But exploration over many years has failed to result in a single significant copper discovery. Is this because the deposits are not there? Or has the problem been the exploration models?

KEN MAIDEN

Ken, who is a very well known and respected economic geologist was awarded the SMEDG Life Member Medal at the inaugural SMEDG Dinner in 2016. He has over 40 years experience in both industry and academia, and has taken his enthusiastic and methodical approach to mineral exploration to many parts of the globe, including significant time in Southern Africa and Australia. Ken’s wide industry experience has included working for larger companies, operating as an independent consultant and more recently establishing a number of exploration companies. On the academic side he has held positions at the Canberra College of Advanced Education (commonly known to ex-students as the “College of Knowledge” and now the University of Canberra) and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. The full citation for Ken’s SMEDG Life Member Medal award, which further details his career, can be found here.

In addition to being informative, Ken is also a very entertaining speaker, and thus this is a talk that should not to be missed!